Omaha Exploration

Surrounded by the developing Edge District, the ever-growing University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), and the expanded Child Saving Institute stands a turn-of-the-century building notable for its elaborate façade of patterned terracotta and brick.

Built by John H. Harte, one of Omaha’s most prominent contractors, the structure reflects the skill and ambition of its creator. The son of German immigrants, John worked on a farm before turning to carpentry and milling—eventually embarking on a career that led to the construction of the original Omaha Public Library, the Brandeis Building, one wing of Central High School, and the Walnut Hill Pumping Station, among many others.

Strategically located between Dundee and Blackstone, 4524 Farnam Street was constructed along the Omaha Belt Line. It sat on a lot that extended west to 46th Street and north to Douglas. The property included not just this building but also a second brick structure and several sheds. As the home of the Omaha Litholite Stone Company, of which John was president, the site was used to crush stone and mix it with cement so that it could be molded into any shape. The business later became known as the Cement Machinery and Supply Company.  

The property remained in the Harte family until 1944, when John’s son and business partner Louis passed away. It’s likely the property was then used as a storage yard and the main building as an office for the contracting company that he took over from his father. At one point, Louis converted the 2,000-square-foot upper level into his personal residence.

After a 16-year run operating as a soda fountain and malt machinery business called Al Harmon & Son, the building was converted into a series of bars. The first, 3J’s, operated from the early 1960s through the late 1970s. Once it closed, Dr. Bill Orr purchased the building with the intent of razing it to create parking for his nearby office. Upon discovering that it still had an active liquor license, he instead opened Recovery Room, a bar dedicated to the doctors and nurses who worked at the nearby medical hospital.

Three Cheers became the next occupant, during which time Cutchall Management purchased the building and moved its headquarters into the former living space on the second floor. Cutchall continued to operate the bar and added volleyball courts in the back. Three Cheers was followed by a stock market–themed bar called The Exchange. A fire in 2000 caused extensive damage to the second floor and roof, resulting in the bar’s closure.  

Its next chapter came in 2001 with the opening of the beloved coffee shop Caffeine Dreams. One of the few places in town that roasted its own beans, the shop also doubled as an art gallery, allowing local artists to display their work. During this time, the volleyball courts were replaced with a landscaped patio.  

After Caffeine Dreams closed in 2018, Rathskeller Bier Haus opened in its place. It featured a German-style biergarten with a unique atmosphere, extensive beer selection and a replica section of the Berlin Wall covered in graffiti. When Rathskeller closed in 2023, there were fears that the building would be razed as UNMC looked to expand its campus to the west of Saddle Creek.

Preservationists, including Preserve Omaha, mobilized to save the building that was featured in the 1977 landmark book Omaha City Architecture for its Sullivanesque style—an architectural approach inspired by Chicago architect Louis Sullivan. UNMC later announced that it had no plans to demolish the building and emphasized that it would be preserved and integrated into the design for the Edge District. That announcement combined with the completion of the construction work that surrounded the building led to the reopening of Rathskeller under new ownership earlier this year.  

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Article Featured on Grow Omaha: Local History by Omaha Exploration | Grow Omaha

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